The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-11-12
THE MATCHMAKER.
A Woman Who Would Be Unhappy in {.
Place Where People Do Not Marry.

rage, had been very like other young
women, so far as one could see from
general observation, but she was mar
ried hardly six months before the early
symptoms Of the matchmaking disease
discovered themselves. A month later
her ailment had developed itself COM
pletely and with unwonted virulence
From that time to the day of her death
she never was free from it.
Whether Mrs Hartmixum's mania for
bringing susceptible persons of different
sex into propinquity was born of de-
sire to make others as happy as she had
been during the budding period of her
own and John Hartmixum's loves, or
whether it was intended as n tribute to
the happiness of the marital state, of
whose blessings she unreservedly recon-
mended all humanity to partake. is not
positively known; but it could hardly
have been the latter, for it inevitably
happened that no sooner did she slc-
coed in getting two young persons
mutually interested than she changed
her manner and did all that she could to
separate them. 1t would seem, therefore,
that she considered courtship rather
than matrimony the climax of earthly
bliss, and that, consequently, she ,en-
deavored to prevent marriage whenever
she was able, not only because it was
something she could not conscientiously
recommend, but also because the fewer
the weddings the more hearts would
she continue to have at her disposal for
the pursuit of her favorte amusement
1t was the misfortune of George
Ready to be Mrs. Hartmixum's brother
her only brother. Had Providence
seen fit to bless Mrs. Hartmixum's
parents with several sons instead of
limiting its benefactions in that line to
a single gift, it would have been great
relief to George As it was. he was the
only available material in the family
given Mrs. HartmiXum to work with,
and it followed naturally that she
worked George for all he was worth.
No young woman could come within
the purview of Mrs. Hartmixum but
that lady incontinently discovered that
the young woman was the very one of
all her sex whom she would choose for
a sistec-in-law, and the only woman on
the footstool who could make brother
George happy. Immediately, there
fore, Mrs. HartmiXum set about bring
ing the two young people together.
The young woman who for the time
being happened to be in the as
cendant was invited to tea, to
card parties, to meetings, to any
thing, in short. which gave oppor-
tunity for getting the young woman
and the young man into each others
company, and it usually happened, and
apparently by merest accident, that the
young folk found themselves alone be-
fore the occasion terminated. Even
when it was not convenient to have her
brother at hand. Mrs. Hartmixum
would in nowise relax her attentions to
the party of the other part, but would
have her near as often as she could and
always keep her as long us possible, in
order to sound in her ears the praises
of brother George. On the other hand,
when George was present and the
young woman not by, Mrs. Hartmixum
could talk of nothing but the young
woman in question. He had her for
breakfast, for dinner and for supper;
he was forced to eat her with his food
and drink her with his drink. Her
name was in his ears as he went to bed,
that haply he might dream of her
through the night.
But let it appear that the young
people were beginning to care for one
another, presto! Mrs. Hartmixum
would have none of it The Young
woman was out of her books instanter.
She knew her no more forever, and all
her failings, real or supposititious. were
paraded before Georges eyes, that he
might avoid that young woman as he
would pestilence. This might seem
unkindness in Mrs. Hartmixum. 1t
would have been, perhaps, were she
not always ready to make amends by
bringing lOrWdEu solle Quiet young
woman who, if not all things to all
men, was all things to brother George,
until in her turn she became fond of
George and he fond of her, or. which
amounted to the same thing, some
other young woman happened along;
for it was invariably the last conner
who received countenance of Mrs.
Hartmixum, who was the pearl of great
price with which she would ornament
brother Georges bosom.
And so with all eligible young men
and young women. 1t was her sole
pleasure in life to promote love. She
paired couples as nonchalantly rs she
pared her nails, and y great deal Oft
ener. And though, as has already
been said, she did not press couple
on to matrimony, whole droves of cou-
pies got there NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. it was
not possible for Mrs. Hartmixum to
| oversee all her work-and the clergy
of her town were indebted to her great
ly for the aid she rendered them in
e<ing out living from slender sti-
ponds.
Mrs. Hartmixum has passed away.
There is no reason why / should not
wish her well; therefore | can not hope
that she has gone to that place where
/ Al = IL